Tarjeta Ciudadana Palma: the citizen card and its benefits

The Tarjeta Ciudadana of Palma had been, since the year 2000, the grey chequebook-format card with the town hall motif that enabled tens of thousands of residents of the city and cooperating municipalities to enjoy discounted bus journeys and other municipal services. Anyone searching today for "Tarjeta Ciudadana Palma" will, however, land right in the middle of a transition: since 1 June 2026, the old citizen card no longer works as a ticket on the EMT buses. In its place comes the new Tarjeta Única, which has been issued since 1 October 2025 and covers the whole of Mallorca – train, metro, intercity bus (TIB) and city bus. In this guide you'll learn what the citizen card achieved historically, what has actually changed, how to apply for the new card, and what happens to your remaining balance.

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What was the Tarjeta Ciudadana? Origin and basic concept

The citizen card was introduced in the year 2000 and, by 2017 – its coming-of-age year, so to speak – was already in circulation among around 425,000 users. This included not only residents of Palma but also foreign residents living in the city, as well as citizens from island municipalities that formed a transport network with Palma. The card, in chequebook format, had a built-in balance chip and served mainly for cashless payment on the buses of the municipal transport company EMT, combined with noticeable discounts compared to the standard fare.

Note: The Tarjeta Ciudadana was originally conceived as a multi-purpose card – beyond its pure ticketing function, it was also linked in Palma to access to certain municipal services, such as unlocking the brown organic-waste container.

The classic benefits: discounts and fares of the old citizen card

For years, the appeal of the Tarjeta Ciudadana lay in the reduced fares. For comparison, here are the historical fares that applied in Palma over a long period:

Around 42 municipalities on Mallorca – as well as two municipalities on Menorca – cooperated with Palma, so that a large part of the island benefited from these discounts, with the conditions varying depending on the municipality and user group (such as pupils or pensioners).

The great change of 2025/2026: Tarjeta Única replaces the citizen card

The Govern de les Illes Balears and the Palma town hall have presented the Tarjeta Única as a unified means of transport for the whole of Mallorca: one card for train, metro, the TIB network's intercity bus, and the EMT city bus. Issuance began on 1 October 2025. Anyone who already had a Tarjeta Intermodal did not need to do anything, as this card continues to function without restriction as a Tarjeta Única. Those who, on the other hand, only had a Tarjeta Ciudadana could, from that date, apply for the free reissue of the Tarjeta Única.

Attention: Since 1 June 2026, the Tarjeta Ciudadana is no longer accepted on the EMT buses in Palma. Without a Tarjeta Única or Tarjeta Intermodal, valid validation is not possible, even though the journey itself remains free in 2026.

What still works, and what no longer does?

As of the cut-off date of 1 June 2026, the old citizen card has lost two central functions: it no longer serves as a travel ticket for the Palma city bus, and access to the brown organic waste container via the card is also discontinued. For users who have only used the card for these two purposes, this effectively marks the end of its practical usefulness. Whether and which further municipal functions the Tarjeta Ciudadana retains beyond the cut-off date depends on the respective local service – if in doubt, it is worth enquiring at the municipal citizen offices.

Applying for the Tarjeta Única: step by step

The switch itself is straightforward, but requires a personal appointment. Here's how to proceed:

1. Check whether you already have a Tarjeta Intermodal – if so, no action is needed, the card already functions as a Tarjeta Única.
2. If you only have a Tarjeta Ciudadana: arrange a Cita Previa, either via the TIB appointment system or via the EMT Palma appointment portal.
3. Bring your DNI or NIE along with – depending on the case – your Padrón certificate (Empadronamiento).
4. Have the Tarjeta Única issued free of charge at one of the issuing points.
5. Activate and use the card from now on for bus, train and metro; you will no longer be able to use the old citizen card as a travel ticket afterwards.

Note: A separate appointment is required for each card to be applied for. People aged 65 and over do not need a Cita Previa.

Where and how: issuing points and appointment booking

Issuing takes place at several fixed locations across the island, with distribution gradually expanded; Palma and several larger municipalities were among the first locations.

Appointments for the TIB offices can be booked via the official TIB appointment portal, and for the EMT Oficina de Atención al Cliente via the EMT Palma appointment portal. People aged 65 and over are exempt from the appointment requirement.

Balance transfer: what happens to your remaining credit?

Anyone who still had credit on the old Tarjeta Ciudadana generally does not need to do anything themselves. According to the town hall, the transfer to the Tarjeta Única or Tarjeta Intermodal happens automatically for most users, staggered over several weeks from 1 June 2026. As soon as the transfer has been successfully completed, you will receive a notification by email or to your mobile phone.

Note: If you have not received confirmation within a few weeks of the deadline, it is worth enquiring at one of the issuing points – especially if there was still a significant balance on the old card.

Who can apply for the card? Residents, second-home owners, retirees

The Tarjeta Única is primarily aimed at people registered in Mallorca. What matters here is not property ownership alone, but the administrative situation: anyone officially registered on the island (Empadronamiento) can apply for the card regardless of their tax residence. This also applies to international owners of a second home who are tax-resident abroad but registered locally. Pure property owners without registration, on the other hand, do not automatically meet the requirements.

If you haven't yet completed your registration, you'll find the necessary steps in the guide to Empadronamiento Mallorca. The guide to Residencia in Spain also helps if you want to clarify your residency status in general.

Costs and rates 2026: free travel with conditions

According to current reports, buses in Mallorca will remain free throughout 2026 for eligible holders of the Tarjeta Única or Tarjeta Intermodal. The prerequisite, however, is that the card is validated at the reader on every journey – simply boarding "for free" without tapping the card doesn't work. For tourists and users without the relevant card, the regular fares of the respective transport operators apply.

Note: Free doesn't mean ticketless. The obligation to validate at the terminal remains in place, regardless of the actual fare.

Most common mistakes when switching over

• The old Tarjeta Ciudadana continues to be used after 1 June 2026, in the assumption that it still works as a ticket.
• No appointment (Cita Previa) arranged for the reissue, even though this is mandatory for TIB and EMT offices.
• The balance transfer isn't waited for; instead, an attempt is made to manually transfer the remaining balance, even though the process runs automatically.
• Missing registration certificate (Padrón), even though this is necessary for the application in many cases.
• Only one appointment is booked for several family members, even though a separate appointment is required per card.

What comes next?

With around 175,500 newly issued cards since October 2025 – of which approximately 129,000 are first-time issuances – the city of Palma has now officially declared the transition process complete. For most former Tarjeta Ciudadana users, the switch should therefore largely be done. Anyone who doesn't yet have a new card should submit their application promptly, as the old card no longer functions on buses. The basic principle – free travel for eligible residents subject to mandatory validation – is set to continue for 2026.

Checklist: From the Tarjeta Ciudadana to the Tarjeta Única

• Check whether you already have a Tarjeta Intermodal (then no action is needed)
• Obtain the Empadronamiento (registration certificate) if you don't already have one
• Have your DNI/NIE ready
• Book a Cita Previa via the TIB or EMT appointment portal (except for those aged 65 and over)
• Choose the appropriate issuing point (Estación Intermodal, TIB office or town hall)
• Collect and activate your new Tarjeta Única free of charge
• Wait for notification regarding the balance transfer
• Stop using the old Tarjeta Ciudadana as a travel ticket

Conclusion

The Tarjeta Ciudadana was a fixture of everyday life in Palma for over two decades – from its first issue in 2000 to its replacement in 2026. Anyone living in or registered in Mallorca today should not delay switching to the Tarjeta Única: the old card has no longer worked on buses since 1 June 2026, whereas the new card is available free of charge, easily by appointment, and with automatic balance transfer. Anyone who still needs to sort out their registration formalities will find suitable guides in our Authorities & Registration.

Official sources

• Web GOIB – Tarjeta Única de transporte público de Mallorca: https://www.caib.es/webgoib/es/-/targeta-unica-de-transport-public-de-mallorca
• EMT Palma – Tarjeta Única / Tarjeta Ciudadana: https://www.emtpalma.cat/es/tarifas?pageId=targeta_unica
• CTM/TIB – Presentation of the Tarjeta Única: https://www.tib.org/en/w/el-govern-i-l-ajuntament-de-palma-presenten-la-targeta-%C3%BAnica-de-transport-p%C3%BAblic-per-a-tota-l-illa-de-mallorca
• TIB – Cita previa appointment booking: https://tib.fundaciobit.org/citatib/reservar-cita
• EMT Palma – Cita previa appointment booking: https://citaprevia.emtpalma.cat/?seccion=citaprevia&subseccion=solicitud